Defense Undersecretary and PVAO Administrator Ernesto Carolina with the Baguio City officials led by Acting Mayor Faustino Olowan recognize the heroism of the World War II heroes during the 74th National Victory Day celebration at the Veterans Park in Baguio City on Tuesday, September 3. (RMC- PIA CAR)

TESDA at 25. TESDA - CAR Regional Director Manuel Wong and DTI Baguio - Benguet Director Freda Gawisan leads other partners from DOLE and Baguio PESO, in a Kapihan media forum, to promote the scheduled activities for TESDA's 25th Anniversary that will be highlighted by the

World class skilled Workers. PEZA Baguio deputy Zone Administrator Allan Datahan, in his keynote message at the TESDA - CAR 25 years anniversary awards and recognition program, affirms a continuing partnership with TESDA, not only in bringing work opportunity for Tech - Voc graduates inside the special economic zone but also in skills training to ensure that Filipino workforce will be globally competitive and responsive to the manpower needs of industries/investors. (Lito Dar/PIA CAR)

TESDA@25. Bartending students from the Baguio City School of Arts and Trade gives a demonstration on wine mixing during the TESDA - CAR led Kapihan media forum for the promotion of the scheduled activities for TESDA's 25th Anniversary that will be highlighted by the

Smoke Free Baguio. City Health Officials with partners and community stakeholders strengthens convergence for the attainment of the objectives of Baguio's Comprehensive Tobacco Control Ordinance through the first Smoke Free Baguio Convention at Venus Parkview Hotel, Tuesday. (Lito Dar/PIA CAR)

Autonomy remain a dream for Cordillerans

BAGUIO CITY – As the Cordillera Region will be going to celebrate July as the Cordillera month, still the dream of an autonomous region still remain as a dolream as the people await that the autonomy bill that is supposed to be drafted from the real cravings of the peopl be finally enacted into law depending on the actions of the government and the legislative initiatives of the Cordillera House Representatives.

The Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) was established in July 15, 1987 comprising the provinces of Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Abra, Kalinga and Apayao as well as the cities of Baguio and Tabuk. Almost all of the residents of the region are indigenous peoples (IPs) generally called Igorots (people of the mountains).

The quest for an autonomous region started from the struggle of the IPs of the Cordilleras in defense of their land, life, livelihood and ancestral lands. Their fight against the Chico River Dam Project and the Cellophil Logging Resources during the rule of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos draws local and international support as the people raised their protest to joining the armed struggle being waged by the Communist Party of the Philippines – New Peoples Army- National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). The fight to defend the Cordillera homeland was carried by the Cordillera mass movement that gave birth to progressive peoples organization and organizations like the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA). The next administration after the fall of Marcos recognized these organizations. This led in the inclusion of their right to autonomy in the Philippine Constitution.

National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director and Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC) Vice-Chairperson Milagros Rimando said that for the past years, they have been convening with all the stakeholders from the private institutions, non-government organizations, advocacy groups and public in gathering inputs on the ground in drafting the organic law. She said these have been adopted by the congressmen of each province in filing House Bill proposals as they acknowledged them as the products of the collective efforts of the Cordillerans. She added that many people, agencies and groups exerted efforts in the information and education campaign (IEC).

Rimando said that the drafting committee for the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera Organic Law met in a workshop to further consolidate inputs especially the new ones from various groups and sectors. She said this was done with high hopes that the Cordillera representatives will adopt the draft in filing a new bill in the Congress.

According to Rimando, they were slightly dislightened on the acceptance of Baguio City Lone District Representative Mark Go on the draft of the RDC on the Organic Law for the establishment of an Autonomous Cordillera. She revealed that the congressman told them that he cannot promise that he will adopt the drafts and recommendations of the RDC when he will file his own bill. However, she said they will respect him for his decision.

Rimando said they still hope that the other congressmen of the provinces of the Cordillera will remain positive in the efforts of the various sectors and groups.

MAASIN CITY, Sept. 13 (PIA) -- More than 3,000 crown-of-thorns (COTs), specie of starfish, were seen in the waters of Malitbog town alone according to Aileen Estrera, member of the province’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan, citing a recent survey conducted by the Southern Leyte State University (SLSU).

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 13 (PIA) -- The institutions and individuals who displayed excellence in the performance and delivery of services for the Surigaonons received an award during the 30th Rotary Outstanding Surigaonon Awards (ROSA) ceremony held here recently.

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Sept. 6 (PIA) -- Civil Service Commission (CSC) OIC-Regional Director Rosalinda Tanalaga-Oliva highlighted the significant changes in the Philippine Civil Service over the past century.

BAGUIO CITY, Sept. 12 (PIA) - - Ranking officials reiterated the government’s call for the active participation of all sectors of society in ensuring good governance, accountability and transparency programs and policies in bringing inclusive growth and progress to the country and to the people.

BAGUIO CITY, Sept. 13 (PIA) -- Two young professionals from this city are among the 27 youth leaders from across the country selected as Philippine Ambassadors of Goodwill for the 46th Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP).

BAGUIO CITY, Sept. 13 (PIA) - - Accounting of water resources in the Cordillera Administrative Region(CAR) is set into motion with the Philippine Statistics Authority regional office (PSA) convening a joint meeting – workshop of the Task Force Water Resource Accounting and the Technical Working Group on Environment Statistics .

Benguet

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Sept. 12(PIA) -- The Department of Education – Cordillera has directed all public and private schools in the region to conduct activities to commemorate the 1986 Mount Data “Sipat” or Peace Accord every September 13.

ITOGON, Benguet, Sept. 13 (PIA) -- The municipal government of Itogon will conduct rituals to commemorate the first year anniversary of the tragic landslide that hit the province of Benguet and this town at the height of typhoon Ompong last year.

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Sept. 13 (PIA) - - The Provincial Rabies Control Consultative Committee gathered various stakeholders for a consultative meeting to bolster programs and activities for the prevention, control and the ultimate eradication of rabies in the province.

Mt. Province

BONTOC, Mountain Province, Aug. 31(PIA) -- Sangguniang Kabataan(SK) members in the province celebrated the Linggo ng Kabataan with various activities actively participated by out-of-school youth, in-school youth and working youth of the different municipalities in the province.

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The House of Representatives approved on first reading a proposed bill seeking for the termination of the collection of toll fees along the portion of the Benguet road, popularly known as Kennon road, from Klondykes Spring to Camp 6, repealing for the purpose Executive Order No. 34, series of 1954 as amended.

BONTOC, Mountain Province, Aug. 6(PIA) -- To raise community awareness and to inculcate health and nutrition habits for children at an early age for healthy living, the provincial government conducted Healthy Mother and Child and cooking contests in celebration of this year’s Nutrition Month.

BONTOC, Mountain Province, July 22 (PIA) -- The Provincial Livelihood Program (PLP) of the Provincial Government here continues to provide livelihood assistance to qualified individuals in the province.

LAGAWE, Ifugao, Aug. 15 (PIA) - - In line with the goal to eliminate human rabies by the year 2020, the support of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) as frontline workers in the communities is being tapped.